Hi Ya! I'm back.

All right - I know it has been over two months since my last blog and that by now even some of my more faithful readers will be on the verge of giving up waiting. There is no real excuse really except that at this time of year I seem to spend a lot of time curled up on a warm sofa so there is not a lot to report. That, coupled with a bit of writer's block, has meant that you have all been deprived of my journalistic ramblings for a while, and I can only say sorry. However, spring is in the air, Easter is about to descend upon us, and everything is bursting into bud (and in some cases blossom), so I now have no excuse for not communicating with you all once again.



So what have we all been up to since we last spoke? Well one thing that did not happen was the planned trip to the mountains as it was snowed off! A sudden burst of snow and ice just before we were due to depart closed the mountain roads, made life a bit unpleasant here, and meant that we could not go and join Auntie Jo, Uncle Roy, and my mate Boudie as planned. Still, at least it meant that I did not have to wear that damned coat.







It has been a time for jobs around the house so I have had to get into Quality Control mode and regularly inspect the work being done. Firstly, Uncle Stu came round to paint our lounge ceiling. Now you all know how much I adore Uncle Stu, but that did not stop me from casting a critical eye over his work. As usual, his work was beyond reproach.

Then mum and dad went into a mad frenzy of de-cluttering. The whole mezzanine floor in the garage was emptied out, three trailer loads of rubbish taken to the dump (I love going there), and masses of stuff put up for sale. Mum has booked a pitch at a forthcoming vide grenier (boot sale) to clear the rest of the stuff. There were also a lot of both mum and dad's "fat" clothes put on Ebay as they are now both much slimmer and have had to buy smaller clothes. I don't have that problem.

Mum went to the UK at the end of March to visit her dad so my dad and I had a great bachelor time together. We just chilled out together and I helped him out with a few jobs.

Last weekend it was the Toques et Clochers event which this year took part in the neighbouring village of Antugnac where my girlfriend Lilly lives. Now I did not go, but as far as I can make out, this is an excuse for some forty to fifty thousand people to gather together in a ridiculously small village, consume copious quantities of the bottle stuff, eat them selves silly, snog members of the band, and return home "over tired" and sunburnt. Not my cup of tea.

The latest project saw the return of Uncle Stu to help with the creation of a gravel pathway around the front garden - something which has been planned for a number of years. They have finally got stuck into it so once again I was in QC mode ensuring standards were maintained. Currently half completed, rain has stopped play for a few days.

So that's you all up to date again. I will try to post more regularly in future unless the hectic summer social life gets in the way. In the meantime I had better get some rest before the next burst of frantic activity.

Love my new winter warmer....NOT!

As some of you may well know, I am not a dog that is too fond of the cold, even preferring to spend my winter evenings snuggled up on the sofa in my duvet. It is probably due to the fact that I have very short fur, and not too much of it. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

However, some things I draw the line at and when a parcel was recently opened and a brand new bright red DOG COAT produced I was ready to pack my bags.

It was carefully explained to me that next week we were going up into the Pyrenees to join my mate Boudie and his mum and dad at a ski resort for a few days and that, as the temperatures were forecast to get as low as minus 11 degrees during our stay, it was thought important that I should have some protection from the elements. I can see the logic in that but something a bit more fashionable and in a more subtle colour might have been more acceptable, and it would have been nice to consult me first.

I mean, how on earth can I be expected to pull in that abomination?

Next week I will give you all a report on my adventures in the mountains and whether or not my new attire impeded my natural charm and elegance with the ladies. In the meantime I need to get out of this thing and have a good rest to get over the shock of it all.

A tribute to Uncle Clive.

On Tuesday I lost a really great mate - my Uncle Clive. 

Although my mum and dad had known him for 27 years, I had only known him for 3 years, but that is most of my short life! He was a regular visitor to our house here in Montazels and he and I always had loads of fun together. I used to sit up with them when he and dad had their "evening discussions" with some of the bottle stuff, and, in his fitter moments, even joined me on a few of my walks. But it was our special moments together that I will always remember, with me curled up on his lap.

I know my mum and dad are really sad as well, but they too will recall the happy times - his infectious laughter, his irreverent comments on life, and his great kindness.

I do hope that the rest of his lovely family - Auntie Cathy, Grant, and Becky - will still come and visit us, but at the moment I am really sad for them and hope that they can take strength from the fact that he was a super bloke who was loved by everyone, including me.

The Brigdale family and me

Bon voyage, Uncle Clive, to wherever you are headed now. Thanks for being my mate.

Well, goodness gracious me - Cathar curries!

Earlier this week saw a large increase in activity around the kitchen with some lovely smells arising from whatever was going on there. The action levels reached a peak on Thursday morning, just before the unexpected arrival of some 13 of my favourite people, all of whom, for some reason, were dressed very strangely.

Soon all was revealed. I turned out that mum and dad were holding a Curry Tiffin lunch for a load of friends and that dressing up in true Indian style was requested. Some people excelled themselves at this challenge whilst others were a little more modest.

Another feature was the application of a large red dot between the eyes - apparently some Indian mark of one's status in society. Even yours truly was not excluded from this but then I suppose that is only right in view of my position in the social hierarchy of this family.

With dad in the role of head chef, some four large vats of curry together with a large assortment side dishes, nibbles, and other delicacies were served up followed by a scrumptious Indian dessert made by Auntie Jo.

Not unexpectedly, bottle stuff was, as usual, in good supply, but strangely there was also a pot of stuff which had various bottlestuffs emptied into it together with all sorts of spices and fruits and then heated up. Apparently this is called mulled wine - a new one on me - and it proved exceedingly popular. I did not get offered any to try so I cannot comment. However, the end result of all this imbibing was that a good time was being had by all.

I didn't manage to sample any of the curries either, but I did manage to snaffle a samosa, a bit of naan bead, and a bit of poppadum when no one was looking and they were yummy.

And now I also have a new best friend - Uncle Stuart and Auntie Jo's son Tom who was over here for Xmas. He is a lovely person and I spent quite a bit of time on his lap and even managed a bit of a snooze whilst I was there.

As I had been up all day organising and then socialising, and as Uncle Tim and Auntie Mary stayed over that night, it was very late by the time I actually hit the sack. Consequently I had a bit of catching up on my sleep to do the next day as well. Come to think of it, I might just need a bit more.

Oh, and by the way, it is three years to the day today that I came to live here in lovely Montazels. Where did those three years go?

Happy New Year everyone.

Frightening objects and an industrial injury

Now as you all know I am a big, brave hunt dog and not much scares me...... but I must admit that occasionally something rather silly does. The other day mum bought a new pair of kitchen tongs - and they frighten the life out of me. Maybe it's because they are purple.

And I have always been a bit worried by the big ceiling fan in the lounge but recently this star thing has appeared dangling below it and that is really scary. I have to sit and stare at it for hours....just in case!

Yesterday my nursing skills were called upon. Basically, dad fell off a ladder in the garage, landed on his head on the concrete floor, and was rapidly leaking blood everywhere. Mum tended to the practical aspects of stopping the blood flow, dressing the wound, and administering brandy whilst I stepped in to administer TLC and maintain a "concussion watch" just in case he had done any real damage.

Glad to say that thanks to our combined efforts he is fine today apart from a small lump on his head and some quite sore bits of body. I think I might need to slip back into an 'elf and safety advisor role to ensure there is no repeat.

Other than that, all is well on the run up to Xmas. Dad has still to buy some more bottle stuff but mum is pretty much on top  of the food situation. I understand we are having "eggs benedict royale" (smoked salmon instead of ham) for Xmas day brekkie so I will look forward to that!


Oh, and by the way, my ringworm has nearly all cleared up and I stop getting the daily daubes soon, thank goodness. And it has been raining for three days now!!!!!!

Being a care assistant turns out to be quite a tiring occupation, so the sofa beckons.

Out of sorts and isolated!

Hello again everyone. Yes, I know that once again it has been over a month since I posted but this time I do have an excuse.

You see, I have been a little out of sorts having come out in a rash in a few places including one that I would rather not go into. Turns out that I have contracted ringworm and it seems that I have caught it from one of my best mates. Now I am not going to name any names as I do not want to be dragged up in front of the Leverson enquiry or anything similar - but you know who you are.  Although the rash is now largely sorted I am banished from contacting any other dogs for a few weeks yet and still get daubed twice daily with this evil smelling (and tasting) liquid. I don't mind that except my mum really should not be asked to handle that part of my anatomy with such frequency (I now have a new name "Willy the Worm").  This is a clue as to where the original rash started!

Other that that things have been pretty quiet as I am not allowed doggy visitors. Mum popped over to see her dad in England for a week so dad and I had a bachelor week together. Then dad popped back to see his dear friend Clive who is very ill, so mum and I had a few days of "cuddle time" together - lovely! Thing is, when one of them is away I have to be even better behaved than normal as I cannot then play one of them off against the other - something I am very adept at.

Suddenly there is a flurry of decorating activity going on with lots of lights being put up, a tree being decorated, and baubles everywhere. I guess it must be that time of year again called Christmass, although judging by the antics of the last few years it ought be be called "Super bottle stuff time" as so much of it gets consumed. Still, another couple of weeks and it will all be over and we can get back to normal.

Will report back soon with a progress report. In the meantime I had better get a bit of rest before the social rigors of the festive season descend upon us.

Frog dog goes to Spain

I know - it has been nearly a month since I last spoke to you all. SORRY! But, I have just been on hols to Spain for the very first time so now I have got something to write about.

On Monday we all set off to Cadaqués which is a small, pretty, little town on the north east coast of Spain only about three hours drive from home.

Now I love traveling in the car and I also love staying in hotels as it means I get to sleep on the beds with my mum and dad.We did loads of walking during the days, interspersed with eating, and of course, for mum and dad, much of the bottle stuff.

We stopped at a few cafés for refreshments and in some the nice people brought me out my own bowl of water - very welcome. It was also a great opportunity to have a cuddle with my mum. Well, I was on holiday after all!

Cadaqués has its own lighthouse about an hour's walk from the town so we all marched out to see that. I saw no ships!

It is also  the place where Savador Dali spent many of his childhood summers and for this reason the local tourist information office has a lifesize cutout photo of him outside. Now Dali was a bit of a scary looking guy and the first time I came face to face with this I have to say I was a bit frightened. Not that I showed it, of course, so I put on a big show of bravado and loads of barking, much to the amusement of the locals.

Much as I like holidays, they can take it out of you so it was a good job there was a comfortable bed for me (and dad) to crash out on and recover.

It was a lovely holiday and I really enjoyed it, but I fear it will take a fair amount of relaxing to fully recover from it. I am off to do some now.